Chromobacterium violaceum: An incidental finding in a neonate

Chromobacterium violaceum is a gram-negative saprophytic bacterium causing human infection in tropical and subtropical countries. Such infections are uncommon but cause high mortality when the bacterium enters the bloodstream through an open wound. We present a case of C. violaceum infection isolated from a blood culture sample in a neonate identified at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North East Uttar Pradesh. Timely diagnosis by microbiological methods and antimicrobial treatment led to a successful cure for this life-threatening infection. Thus, such bacteria should be included in the routine spectrum for differential diagnosis of sepsis, to provide a chance of cure.